The Contextualization of Wellbeing Training Event at Kingston University took place from 14th March 2016 – 18th March 2016. Here is how some of the project members summarises the week.

During a week in March, the early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) setting partners met up with the ECEC practitioners and local authorities/municipalities together with Higher Educational Institutes partners (HEI), in Kingston to attend the projects first training event. This week involved the Higher Educational Institutes partners delivered training on toddlers’

wellbeing, toddlers’ voice and expressions, toddlers’ meal times and toddlers’ early languages.

The project aims to improve the practice of early years professionals working with disadvantaged toddlers, in order to help them get the best start to formal education, in the hope that they will go on to maximise their potential and be active citizens in the future. It provides a unique opportunity for transnational collaboration of the partners in particularly the early year’s practitioners to work with and alongside each other.

Linked to everyday life
Cristina Corcoll López from Universitat Ramon Llull in Barcelona, Spain, summarises the week with these following words;

“This week has been very interesting from an educational point of view, and it has also been interesting to see that this is a real project of applied research, not only because it involves entities or educational services and universities but because all topics that have been proposed to be developed are closely linked to everyday life in settings. We also feel the work to be done is focused on promoting reflection toward action, so that it can support and assist the training of reflective educators. Moreover, the enthusiasm and good feeling shared by all made us foresee great involvement of all participants”.

Started to reflect
Harrieth Elin Kristiansen Strøm is a Senior Pedagogical Leader at Sandvedhaugen kindergarten in Sandnes, Norway. She hopes that the project will provide an increased quality assurance in the kindergartens, nurseries and schools in the three different countries.

“The week in Kingston was fantastic! It was satisfying to have access to experienced and reflected educators from other countries. I immediately started to reflect and it did not take more than a day or two before I felt like I really had enhanced my competence. It was a great opportunity for me to learn how other early childhood practitioners think and act. I have been waiting for an initiative like this for the youngest children. It is important to focus on the concept of wellbeing and how the youngest children thrive. It is important to get a professional definition and an academic discussion about how we best can achieve well-being for the toddlers. The aim is to increase young children’s well-being in the nurseries”.

Will broaden my knowledge
Janette Barber from Heathfield Children’s centre, a setting of Achieving for Children, is impressed by the quality of the projects intellectual outputs, and looks forward to reading the research material and using it in her own setting.

“There is a lot of research material to read through and I am looking forward to do so. It will be relevant to the project and it will broaden my knowledge and understanding of the subject. I look forward to use the materials in my setting”.